John David Pitts is Founder and Principal Advisor of Ahlan International, a cultural advisory and training firm specializing in Arab cultures and languages, the Middle East, and Islam. Prior to founding Ahlan International, Mr. Pitts lived for 15 years in Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Sudan, Yemen and Mauritania. While there, his professional experience included both the education and business sectors, as well as over a decade of deep involvement in humanitarian-aid work ranging from small, grassroots operations to large-scale, UN-managed operations.